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Russo-Ukraine War - 04 January 2024 - Day 680

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in November 2022, President Putin approved the establishment of the Moscow Government Security Force (MGSF), a new organisation to guard the capital's infrastructure. From July 2023, the MGSF has assumed a more paramilitary character, including receiving a remit to use firearms. It has likely attracted several thousand recruits out of a planned strength of 15,000.

The MGSF represents another example in Russia's long tradition of 'paramilitarisation': the proliferation of armed organisations outside of the regular military. However, MGSF has highly likely been strengthened partially in response to concerns about the preparedness of Moscow's local security forces in the face of advancing, mutinous Wagner Group troops in June 2023.

The project also provides an opportunity for Muscovites to volunteer for 'patriotic' war time duties - while avoiding front line service in Ukraine. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin has been successful in limiting the direct impact of the conflict on the capital's relatively well-off population. The majority of Russian casualties in Ukraine have come from poorer, provincial regions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 4, there were 44x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 6x missile, 14x air strikes, carried out 13x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential and apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains difficult.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Stepok, Popivka, Kostyantynivka, Chuikivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Mala Vovcha, Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks near Syn'kivka and east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made 7x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Heorhiivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. More than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x Russian attacks near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Russian forces failed to regain lost ground. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), suffered from Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at Novovorontsovka, Beryslav, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Kherson, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), as well as Solonchaky, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). On top of that, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Zmiivka (Kherson oblast).

Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Thus, during the day of January 4, the Russian occupiers made 6x failed assaults. However, the Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the Russian enemy.

During day of January 4, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x strikes on command posts.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 4x artillery systems, 1x electronic warfare station and 3x command posts of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 14th, 21st, 43rd, 92nd, and 115th mechanised brigades, and 117th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoegorovka, Ivanovka, and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Olkha MLRS, and three Czech-made Vampire MLRS.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery struck manpower concentration areas of the AFU 100th Territorial Defence Brigade and 5th National Guard Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aircraft and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, 42nd Mechanised Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Spornoye, Bogdanovka, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 46th Air Mobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 127th and 128th territorial defence brigades near Georgiyevka, Staromayorskoye, Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and seven pickup trucks.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one D-30 howitzer, and one Rapira anti-tank gun were neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Rabotino and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, five infantry fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Dnepr Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aircraft and artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces wiped out one ammunition depot of the AFU 113th Territorial Defence Brigade near Zovtnevoye (Kharkov region), as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 37 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted close to Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Berestovoye, Elenovka, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Romanovskoye, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Zburyevka, Peschanovka, and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 565 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,404 unmanned aerial vehicles, 446 air defence missile systems, 14,472 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,198 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,623 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,075 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.